Compact gymnasium



Dec. 28, 1965 R. s. UNDERHILL 3,226,115

` COMPACT GYMNASIUM Filed May 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BYGQaCHwL- AYTOR/VEY Dec. 28, 1965 R. s. UNDERHILL. 3,226,115

COMPACT GYMNASIUM Filed May 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

BY @Saw ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,226,115 CMPACT GYMNASIUMRichard S. Underhill, Battle Creek, Mich., assigner, by rnesneassignments, to Battle Creek Equipment Co., Battie Creek, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Filed May 28, 1962, Ser. No. 198,133 Claims.(Cl. 272-58) This invention pertains to exercise equipment and, inparticular, to a compact gymnasium comprising an exercise platform orbench on which various exercises may be performed and having theadditional function of providing a housing for compact storage of aplurality of items of exercise equipment, the latter alone and incombination with the exercise platform of bench making available anextremely large range of exercising routines.

Over the years, and particularly in recent times, it is safe to say thata majority of people have recognized the advantageous effects ofexercise and, particularly, a planned program thereof. However, untilthe advent in recent times of exercise salons equipped with a greatvariety of exercising equipment, most people who have recognized theneed for and have desired to participate in planned programs of exercisehave had to content themselves generally with a limited exercisingprogram predicated to a great extent on seasonal facilities indigenousto the locale in which they live such as, for example, skiing for thoseliving in northern climes and swimming and similar sports for thoseliving in southern climes. It is also true that, in addition to thedevelopment of the exercise salon as mentioned above, the variety ofexercises available to individuals living in a particular climate havegradually increased due to the construction of indoor recreation areasfor the purpose of bowling, swimming and the like. However, and apartfrom the exercise salon, it will be immediately apparent that a givenindividual wishing to participate in a planned program of exerciseincluding an optimum number and variety of exercising routines to toneand conditi-on all parts of the body, has often been required to travelgreat distances and to different locations in order to participate in alarge variety of exercising activities.

While the more modern exercise salons are equipped with a great varietyof exercising equipment, such salons and the equipment thereforrepresent a considerable investment, thereby resulting in fees for theiruse which are considered to be relatively expensive by many people.Furthermore, such fully equipped salons are normally located only inmajor population areas presenting considerable inconveniences invisiting same even by those living in such areas. It may also beobserved that, even though such a salon or similar type of recreationalfacility offering a wide variety of exercises and a planned programthereof may be conveniently located with respect to a given individual,the pace of society today involves so many activities for so many peoplethat it is not convenient at all times for one to avail himself of thefacilities of such a salon or recreation area. It was a recognition ofthese and other problems in the field of body conditioning andexercising which led to the conception and development of the presentinvention.

In view of the foregoing considerations, the present invention includesamong its objects the provision of an extremely compact gymnasium whichmay be easily stored in a house or apartment, such as in a closet, onthe back of a door or under a bed, while including a plurality of itemsof exercise equipment which alone and, in particular in combination witheach other provide an almost unlimited variety of exercise routinescompatible with practically any program of exercise an individual maywish to undertake.

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It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide acompact gymnasium of the type aforementioned comprising, in combination,an exercise platform or bench including a body support surface and asubstantially continuous side wall projecting therefrom and forming withthe opposite surface thereof a recessed housing in which a plurality ofitems of exercise equipment may be removably mounted for storage purposewhen not in use, the exercise platform or bench being readily storablewithin a house or apartment such as in a closet, under a bed or hung onthe back of a door, and such items of exercise equipment being removablefrom the exercise platform or bench for use alone or in combination witheach other to provide an extremely great variety of exercise routines.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide acompact gymnasium of the type aforementioned in which the items ofexercise equipment include a multipurpose gym bar having relativelyreciprocable bar members adapted to grippingly engage opposite verticalframe members of a doorway within a home to removably support the gymbar at selectively vertically adjustable positions therebetween for usealone in chinning exercises and the like and, more particularly, incombination with other items of equipment including the exerciseplatform or bench to provide an extremely great variety of exerciseroutines.

More specifically, it is yet another object and feature of thisinvention to provide a compact gymnasium comprising a multi-purpose gymbar as aforementioned adapted to be removably mounted in a predeterminedselected position or height within a doorway of a home for cooperationwith notch means carried in opposite portions of the substantiallycontinuous side wall aforementioned of the exercise platform or bench atone end thereof, whereby the inclination of the latter may be varied byvarying the position of the gym bar means within the doorway to providevarying loads of exercising effort for a person exercising on theplatform or bench such as while doing sit-ups.

It is yet another object andl feature of this invention to provide acompact gymnasium of the type aforementioned further comprising, incombination with the aforementioned multi-purpose gym bar and exerciseplatform or bench, at least a pair of support legs adapted to beremovably mounted on the end of the platform or bench remote from theend equipped with the aforementioned notch means whereby, in cooperationwith the gym bar at a predetermined selected position Within a doorwayand supporting one end of the exercise platform or bench, such legs willfunction to dispose the exercise platform or bench in a level positionfor exercises compatible therewith.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide acompact gymnasium of the type aforementioned further comprising acycling mechanism comprising .a tubular or rod-like body memberincluding pedal means rotatably mounted thereon, a seating member at theupper end of the body member, and a tubular or rod-like support memberat the lower end of the body member, whereby the body member may beremovably wedged within a doorway of a home at an angle with respectthereto with the aforementioned seating member abuttingly engaging theaforementioned gym bar means in a predetermined selected position orheight within the doorway and the support member at the other end of thebody member wedged against the floor adjacent the doorway so tha-t thepedaling action and thrust on the cycling mechanism by a person sittingin a chair or the like adjacent the doorway and grasping the gym barmeans tends to further wedge the cycling mechanism in rm engagementbetween the aforementioned gym bar means and oor, thus eliminating fromthe cycling mechanism the usual wheel, handle bars, framework and seatusually associated with equipment of this type.

It is yet another object and feature -of this invention to provide acompact gymnasium of the type aforementioned including a gym bar meansremovably vertically adjustably mountable within a doorway as previouslymentioned, further comprising ring and strap members engageable with thegym bar means in a predetermined selected position thereof forperforming various exercises, and still further comprising weight andpulley means attachable to the aforementioned ring and strap means andconnectible to the gym bar means to perform still other exercises.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide acompact gymnasium of the type aforementioned in which one of the itemsof equipment thereof comprises a pair of dumbbells which may be used4independently in various types of arm exercises, as well as providingthe weights for use with the aforementioned ring and pulley means.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide acompact gymnasium of the type aforementioned in which the-aforementioned dumbbells are particula-rly characterized by gripmembers which may be used alone in exercising and two pairs of weightedplates respectively removably mountable on the ends of each grip memberto vary the overall weight of the dumbbell whether used alone or incombina-tion with the ring and pulley means aforementioned, only one orboth weighted plates of each pair thereof being mountable on each end ofeach grip member to provide a great variation in overall weight whichmay be selected.

Still further objects, features and advantages of the invention willappear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment -of ythe foregoing and related ends, theinvention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out vin the claims, the annexed drawings and thefollowing description setting forth i-n detail certain means forcarrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however,but one of various ways in which the principle of the inventi-on may beused.

In the annexed drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevation of a compact gymnasium illustrating apreferred embodiment of the invention, and in which the variouscomponents -thereof are disposed in the relative positions they occupyfor storage purposes;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating one use of the gym bar ofthe gymnasium in cooperation with the exercise platform or bench thereoffor varying 4the angular inclination of the lat-ter for variousexercising purposes;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view corresponding generally to FIGURE 2, butfurther illustrating the cooperation between the gym bar and exerciseplatform or bench of FIGURE 2 with legs for the latter to dispose theexercise platform or bench in a level position for cer-tain types ofexercises;

FIGURE 4 is aperspective view illustrating another use for the gym barin combination with a cycling mechanism forming a part of the gymequipment;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View illustrating yet anotheruse for the gymbar of FIGURES 2 and 3 in which the latter is mounted relatively high ina doorway and exercise rings attached to straps are suspended therefromfor still further types `of exercises;

FIGURE 6 is a view corresponding generally to FIG- URE 5 butillustrating still another use for the gym bar in combination wi-thpulley and weight means; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the dumbbellsshown in FIGURE 6 and illustrates certain details there-of.

Referring now to the drawings, the compact gymnasium with the variousitems of exercise equipment forming a part thereof is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 10 in FIGURE 1, and comprises an elongateexercise platform or bench 12, an ankle strap 14, gym bar means I6, atleast a pair of legs 1'8, a cycle mechanism 2t), a pair of ring andstrap means 22, a pair of pulley and cord means 24 and a pair ofdumbbells 26.

The exercise platform or bench IZ is of rectangular configuration andcomprises an upper or body support surface 28 from which there projectsa substantially continuous rectangular side wall 30 to form with theopposite or lower surface 32 of the platform or bench a recessed openingor housing for receipt of the various items of exercise equipmentaforementioned and as illustrated in FIGURE 1. While other devices maybe employed, FIG- URE 1 further illustrates the various items ofexercise equipment as being removably mountable against the lowersurface 32 of the exercise platform or bench by looped belting 34 eitheralong or cooperating with support brackets 36 and also by yielda-bleclips 38 respectively secured to such lower surface of the platform orbench as will be readily understood.

Rubber or similar resilient bumpers 40 are suitably secured on posts ineach corner of the exercise platform or bench so as to project at leastslightly beyond the lower edge of the side wall 30 thereof, whereby theplatform or bench may rest -on such bumpers on the floor without damageto the latter. In addition, a pair of conventional mounting brackets 42are provided on the lower surface 32 adjacent each corner of theexercise platform or bench at one end thereof for releasable engagementwith the respective legs 1.8 as will appear hereinafter. A pair ofoppositely disposed seating notches 44 are provided in the lower edgesof opposite portions of the continuous side wall 30 at the other end ofthe platform or bench for cooperation with the gym bar means 1'6 as willalso 4appear more fully hereinafter. The opposite ends of the anklestrap I4 are adapted to be secured, preferably removably so by snapfasteners, to opposite portions of the continuous side wall 30 adjacentseating notches 44.

As illustrated particularly in FIGURES 1 and 5, the gym bar means 16 isof a known commercially available construction comprising the relativelyaxially reciprocably adjustable bar members 46 each including a rubberor resilient pad 48 at the end thereof for gripping engagement with theopposite vertical frame members 50 of a doorway within a house orapartment. Thus, by adjusting the bar members 46 relative to each other,the gym bar means may be mounted within the doorway at any selectedheight or vertical position therein as illustrated, lfor example, inFIGURES 2 through 6.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 2, the gym bar means 16 isillustrated as being removably mounted at a relatively low level withina doorway and the seating notches 44 of the exercise platform or bench12 resting thereon so as to incline the platform or bench for aparticular program of exercises as will be apparent to those familiarwith this art. Thus, an individual may place his ankles beneath theankle strap 14 and do situps on the platform or bench toward the opendoorway. If it is desired to vary the inclination of the platform orbench from that shown in FIGURE 2, it will be apparent that it is onlynecessary to manipulate the gym bar means and relock it at any givenposition or height within the doorway.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the gym bar means is illustrated insubstantially the position of FIGURE 2, but the legs 18 have beenclamped within the mounting brackets 42 to level the platform or benchfor another program of exercises such as, for example, lying on theplatform or bench and raising and lowering the dumbbells 26, therebypreventing the dumbbells from striking the floor during the exercises.It will also be noted that rubber tips or the like 52 are provided oneach of the legs 18 to prevent marring the floor.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, it will be noted that the gym bar means 16may be locked within the doorway at another predetermined position forcooperation with the cycle mechanism 20. The cycle mechanism comprises asingle tubular rod or body member 54 having a short arcuately shapedseating member or saddle 56 extending perpendicularly of one endthereof, and a longer single tubular rod or support member 58 extendingperpendicularly of the other end thereof and provided at its oppositeends with rubber tips 60 or the like to prevent marring the floor. Apedal mechanism 62 includes the usual axle shaft suitably rotatablysupported within a housing 64 secured to a lower portion of the bodymember 54, and an adjustable knob 66 is connected to a suitable brakemeans interiorly of the housing 64 and acting upon the pedal mechanismto vary the resistance of pedaling action thereof.

To use the cycle mechanism, the seating member or saddle member 56 isengaged with a bar member 46 of the gym bar disposed at a predeterminedheight within the doorway so that the support member 58 engages thefloor adjacent and to one side of the vertical frame members 50 of thedoorway; in other words, so that the body member 54 extends downwardlyfrom the gym bar means and away from the doorway.l Thus, an individualmay sit on a conventional chair, hassock or the like, grasp the gym barmeans 16 on each side of seating member or saddle 56 and drive the pedalmechanism 62, resulting in a thrust which wedges the seating member orsaddle 56 and support member 58 into even firmer wedging engagement withthe gym bar means and the floor, respectively.

In FIGURE 5, still another use of the gym bar means is illustrated incombination with the ring and strap means 22. Before installing the gymbar means in the position illustrated, the straps are looped therearoundto suspend the ring and `strap means for various types of exercisesthereon as will be readily apparent to those acquainted with the art.

FIGURE 6 shows yet another use for the gym bar `means in combinationwith the ring and strap means 22, the pulley and cord means 24 and thedumbbells 26. Thus, the respective pulleys may be removably connected toconventional clips removably mounted about the gym bar means 16 disposedat a suitable height within the doorway, and the respective cords reavedabout each of the pulleys. One end of each cord is removably connectedthrough a suitable fastener to one end of the strap associated with eachof the ring and strap means 22, while the other end of each cord isremovably connected through a suitable fastener to an eye screw 68extending from one end of each of the dumbbells 26. Thus, the ring andstrap means 22 may be pulled upon for exercising in a well known manner.

The dumbbells 26 may be used independently from the equipmentaforedescribed, as in conjunction with the level exercise platform orbench illustrated in FIG- URE 3 and as aforementioned. Whether usedalone or in the combination illustrated in FIGURE 6, it is significantto note that each of the dumbbells involves a con struction permittingvariation in the weights thereof and ready attachment to the pulley andcord means 24. Thus, and referring to FIGURE 7, each dumbbell comprisesa hand grip 70 including a threaded bore 72 in each end thereof. A pairof weight plates 74 and 76 are provided for each end of the hand grips70, the weight plates 74 including threaded fasteners 78 secured theretoand the weight plates 76 including bores 80 therethrough. Thus, the handgrips 70 may be used alone, or various combinations of the weight plates74 and 76 removably attached thereto. FIGURE 7 illustrates all theweight plates attached by inserting the threaded fasteners 78 on weightplates 74 through bores 80 in weight plates 76 an-d into threaded bores72 in each end of the hand grip. As will be apparent, only weight plates74 or only one thereof may be attached to the hand grip so that thelatter may receive from one to four such weight plates. The eye screws68 are threadable into suitable bores in threaded fasteners 78 to permitready attachment of the dumbbells to the pulley and cord means aspreviously described.

From the foregoing description, it will now be appreciated that thepresent invention provides an extremely versatile array of exerciseequipment cooperable in such a manner as to provide a practicallyunlimited variety of eX- ercising routines compatible with anypractically conceivable program of body conditioning, and whichequipment is, nonetheless, so constructed and arranged as to form anextremely compact gymnasium readily stored in any convenient placewithin the home when not in use.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described, otherforms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, itwill be understood that the embodiment shown in the drawing anddescribed above is merely for illustrative purposes, and is not intendedto limit the spirit and scope of the invention.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the apparatusand combinations herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any ofthe following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In combination, gym bar means mountable between the opposite verticalframe members of a doorway, cycling means comprising a body memberincluding pedal means rotatably mounted thereon, a seating member at-the upper end of said body member, and a support member at the lowerend of said body member, said body member being removably wedgeablewithin said doorway at an angle thereto with said seating memberabuttingly engaging said gym bar means and said support member engagingthe floor adjacent said doorway, whereby said pedal means may beoperated by a person sitting adjacent said doorway and the pedalingaction further wedges said body member between said gym bar means andthe floor.

2. In combination, gym bar means mountable between the opposite verticalframe members of a doorway, cycling means comprising a rod-like bodymember including pedal means rotatably mounted thereon, a seating memberextending perpendicularly of said body member at the upper end thereof,and a rod-like support member extending perpendicularly of said bodymember at the lower end thereof, said body member being removablywedgeable within said doorway at an angle thereto with said seatingmember abuttingly engaging said gym bar means and said support memberengaging the floor adjacent said doorway, whereby said pedal means maybe operated by a person sitting adjacent said doorway and the pedalingaction further wedges said body member between said gym bar means andthe oor.

3. In combination, a multipurpose gym bar means including relativelyreciprocably adjustable bar members respectively removably engageablewith opposite vertical frame members of a doorway to removably supportsaid gym bar means at selectively vertically adjustable positionstherebetween; cycling means comprising a single rod-like body memberincluding pedal means rotatably mounted thereon, a seating memberextending perpendicularly of said body member at the upper end thereof,and a single rod-like support member extending perpendicularly of saidbody member at the lower end thereof, said body member being removablywedgeable within said doorway at an angle thereto with said seatingmember abuttingly engaging said gym bar means in a predeterminedselected position thereof within said doorway and said support memberengaging the oor adjacent said doorway, whereby said pedal means may beoperated by a person sitting adjacent said doorway and the pedalingaction further wedges said body member between said gym bar means andthe floor.

4. A compact gymnasium comprising, in combination, an exercise platformincluding a body support surface and substantially continuous side Wallmeans projecting therefrom and forming with the opposite surface thereofa recessed housing, a plurality of items of exercise equipment includingmulti-purpose gym bar means, at least a pair of leg means for one end ofsaid exercise platform and cycling means, and means detachablysupporting said items within said housing; said multi-purpose gym barmeans including relatively reciprocably adjustable bar membersrespectively removably engageable With opposite vertical frame membersof a doorway to removably support said gym bar means at selectivelyvertically adjustable positions therebetween; a pair of notch means inopposed portions of said side wall means adjacent one end of saidexercise platform, said notch means being engageable with said gym barmeans in selected positions thereof to vary the angular inclination ofsaid exercise platform; said leg means being removably mountableadjacent the other end of said platform and cooperable with said gym barmeans in a predetermined selected posi-tion thereof in engagement withsaid notch means to level said exercise platform; said cycling meanscomprising a single tubular body member including pedal means rotatablymounted thereon, a seating member extending perpendicularly ofv saidbody member at the upper end thereof, and a single tubular supportmember extending perpendicularly of said body member at the lower endthereof, said body member being removably wedgeable within a doorway atan angle thereto with said seating member abuttingly engaging said gymbar means `in a predetermined selected position thereof withinsaid'doorway and said support member engaging the floor adjacent saiddoorway, whereby operation of said pedal means by a person sittingadjacent said doorway further wedges said body member between said gymbar means and the floor.

5. The compact gymnasium as dened in claim .4 further comprising a pairof dumbbells, each of said dumbbells comprising a grip member, a pair ofweights for each end of said grip member, andathr'eaded member securedto one weight of each pair of weights and insertable through the otherthereof to removable th're'adable engagement with respective ends ofsaid grip member, whereby said one weight of each pair thereof may beengaged with said grip member alone and with the other thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,326 2/ 1893Whitney 272-81 1,126,857 2/1915 Platt 272-61 1,431,673 10/1922 Lucus108-48 1,645,457 10/1927 Schall 272-84 X 1,646,818 10/ 1927 Holland272-84 1,672,944 6/1928 Jowett 272-84 2,632,645 3/1953 Barkschat 272-622,783,045 2/ 1957 Bosch 272-81 2,817,522 12/1957 Margulies 272-582,855,200 10/ 1958 Blickman 272-58 2,919,134 12/1959 Zuro 272-62 X3,127,171 3/1964 Noland et al 272-58 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

4. A COMPACT GYMMASIUM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN EXERCISE PLATFORMINCLUDING A BODY SUPPORT SURFACE AND SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS SIDE WALLMEANS PROJECTING THEREFROM AND FORMING WITH THE OPPOSITE SURFACE THEREOFA RECESSED HOUSING, A PLURALITY OF ITEMS OF EXERCISE EQUIPMENT INCLUDINGMULTI-PURPOSE GYM BAR MEANS, AT LEAST A PAIR OF LEG MEANS FOR ONE END OFSAID EXERCISE PLATFORM AND CYCLING MEANS, AND MEANS DETACHABLYSUPPORTING SAID ITEMS WITHIN SAID HOUSING; SAID MULTI-PURPOSES GYM BARMEANS INCLUDING RELATIVELY RECIPROCABLY ADJUSTABLE BAR MEMBERSRESPECTIVELY REMOVABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH OPPOSITE VERTICAL FRAME MEMBERSOF A DOORWAY TO REMOVABLY SUPPORT SAID GYM BAR MEANS AT SELECTIVELYVERTICALLY ADJUSTABLY POSITION THEREBETWEEN; A PAIR OF NOTCH MEANS INOPPOSED PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE WALL MEANS ADJACENT ONE END OF SAIDEXERCISE PLATFORM, SAID NOTCH MEANS BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID GYM BARMEANS IN SELECTED POSITIONS THEREOF TO VARY THE ANGULAR INCLINATION OFSAID EXERCISE PLATFORM; SID LEG MEANS BEING REMOVABLY MOUNTABLE ADJACENTTHE OTHER END OF SAID PLATFORM AND COOPERABLE WITH SAID GYM BAR MEANS INA PREDETERMINED SELECTED POSITION THEREOF IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID NOTCHMEANS ROTATABLY EXERCISE PLATFORM; SAID CYCLING MEANS COMPRISING ASINGLE TUBULAR BODY MEMBER INCLUDING PEDAL MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTEDTHEREON, A SEATING MEMBER EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY OF SAID BODY MEMBERAT THE UPPER END THEREOF, AND A SINGLE TUBULAR SUPPORT MEMBER EXTENDINGPERPENDICULARLY OF SAID BODY MEMBER AT THE LOWER END THEREOF, SAID BODYMEMBER BEING REMOVABLY WEDGEABLE WITHIN A DOORWAY AT AN ANGLE THERETOWITH SAID SEATING MEMBER ABUTTINGLY ENGAGING SAID GYM BAR MEANS IN APREDETERMINED SELECTED POSITION THEREOF WITHIN SAID DOORWAY AND SAIDSUPPORT MEMBER ENGAGING THE FLOOR ADJACENT SAID DOORWAY, WHEREBYOPERATION OF SAID PEDAL MEANS BY A PERSON SITTING ADJACENT SAID DOORWAYFURTHER WEDGES SAID BODY MEMBER BETWEEN SAID GYM BAR MEANS AND THEFLOOR.